US3913753A

US3913753A - Drill pipe handling and storage device

Info

Publication number: US3913753A
Application number: US501732A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard H Swartz; Richard J Pearce; James M Bowe
Original assignee: Driltech Inc
Current assignee: Driltech Inc
Priority date: 1974-08-29
Filing date: 1974-08-29
Publication date: 1975-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-21
Also published as: CA1025844A; JPS5415242B2; BR7505489A; ZA755125B; JPS5150201A; AU8380775A; AU471786B2

Abstract

Apparatus for drilling wells including a magazine swingably mounted on a mast for moving a section of drill pipe into alignment with a string of drill pipes having a cutter at the lower end. The magazine contains a plurality of drill pipe sections and includes mechanism for maintaining the drill pipes in the magazine as well as mechanism for rotating the magazine so that a drill pipe section can be removed from or added to the magazine.

Description

[H1 3,913,753 Oct. 21, 1975 United States Patent 1 Swartz et a1.

[ DRILL PIPE HANDLING AND STORAGE 3,265,138 8/!966 Alexander et a1. 175/85 x 3,336,991 Klem et a1. 214/ X DEVICE 3,493,061 Gyongyosi 175/85 X [75] Inventors: Richard H. Swartz; Richard J.

r J a w m u "S m a WY EA H mm 4n r H0 .mL 3. X 5 W m mm r PA a m H F m m e H... W V o a B .m M a SInMG mp... ak h a .a h es mm Ha PGD n .m s S A 1 3 7 [22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1974 Apparatus for drilling wells including a magazine [2]] Appl. No.: 501,732

f. Hi 6 mmn .Ulec .l .wflmmmm. r S udta m in m w n .mPm= m m rl r m m m heee S h w|mf mwep pm t n an 1 e r..m.m m m mm nlcln d 0.... ilt ac ma me n FWI. m oefim cmmw .W W Bw n a a m .ms .lmmnflm r -I -ll wdhmmz S4 3 0fl owm 69 q u fls AMEN 2 27 HR 7 W 1 26 .s a 5 MP1 2 mlz 4 4 M I ll 2 .2 W mm U L C I d s sm U [F l 1.. 2 8 5 l. 1.1.

e removed from or added that a drill pipe section can b to the magazine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Coburn US. Patent Oct.21,1975 Sheet1of4 3,913,753

FIG. 2

FIG. I

U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet2of4 3,913,753

U.S. Patent Oct.21,1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,913,753

DRILL PIPE HANDLING AND STORAGE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to boring holes into the earth and relates particularly to apparatus for supplying and removing sections of drill pipe to or from a drill string.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore many efforts have been made to provide apparatus for boring holes into the earth and such apparatus has included an upright mast with a drill table at the lower end and a rotary drive mechanism reciprocably mounted for movement in a generally vertical direction. Normally a cutter head or drill bit is mounted on the lower end of a drill pipe which extends upwardly through a guide in the drill table and the upper end of such pipe is connected to the rotary drive member to rotate the drill pipe and the cutter head. Simultaneously the cutter head is moved downwardly to penetrate the earth. When most of the drill pipe has penetrated the earth, the rotary drive member is disconnected from the upper end of the drill pipe and raised to an elevated position so that another section of drill pipe can be attached to the rotary drive member and thereafter connected to the drill pipe already in the ground to form a drill string which is rotated by the rotary drive member to cause continued penetration of the earth by the cutter head. This process continues until a desired depth has been reached at which time the process is reversed to remove the drill string from the hole.

In the past many efforts have been made to provide racks and magazines located on or adjacent to the drill mast to provide a convenient storage and handling mechanism for a plurality of drill pipe sections. In these prior structures many mechanisms have been suggested for holding the drill pipe sections on the rack .or magazine until such time as it is desired to release one of the sections so that such section can be added to the drilll string. Some examples of prior art structures are the US. Pat. Nos. to Thomburg 2,869,826 and 2,972,388; Leven 3,025,918; Gyongyosi 3,157,286 and 3,493,06l; and Klem 3,185,310.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is embodied in a drill pipe magazine swingably mounted on the mast of a drill rig and movable from a retracted position to a position where one of the drill pipe sections carried by the magazine is substantially in alignment with the drill string along the vertical axis of the bore hole. Apparatus is provided for rotating the magazine one step at a time in either direction so that any desired drill pipe may be positioned along the axis of the bore hole. The magazine includes apparatus adjacent the bottom for receiving one end of the drill pipe sections while preventing rotation in either direction so that the rotary driving head can be either connected to or disconnected from a selected drill pipe section. Also apparatus is provided for positively engaging the upper portions of the drill pipe sections to prevent removal of the sections until the rotary driving member is connected to or disconnected therefrom.

It is an object of the invention to provide a drill pipe handling and storage magazine having apparatus for positively holding the drill pipe sections adjacent opposite ends until the rotary driving member is connected to or disconnected from the drill pipe section.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for rotating the drill pipe magazine in either direction to locate a desired drill pipe section in a position to be removed from the magazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating one application of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the magazine per se.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the lower portion of the magazine with portions broken away for clarity.

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the drill pipe sections.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of a bridle for loading drill pipe sections into the magazine.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the magazine.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged section on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section on the line ll-ll of FIG. 9.

P10. 12 is an enlarged detail section on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continued reference to the drawings, a vehicle 10 is provided having an elongated mast ll pivotally mounted thereon. The mast normally is stored in a generally horizontal position while moving from place to place and is swung to a substantially vertical position by fluid cylinders 12 when the mast is to be used. In order to provide a stable platform for the mast 1 l, the vehicle 10 may have two or more stabilizers 13 having telescoping feet 14 adapted to engage the earth. The feet are extended and retracted in any conventional manner, as by fluid cylinders, screw jacks or the like.

A drill table 15 is provided at the base of the mast 11 and such table includes an opening (not shown) which functions as a guide for a drill pipe 16 having a drill bit or cutter 17 attached to the lower end therof. The upper end of the drill pipe 16 is releasably connected to the bull shaft 18 of a rotary driving member 19 in any desired manner, as by screw threads or the like. The rotary driving member normally is mounted for generally vertical movement on a frame which is movably supported by the mast 11 so that when the rotary driving member is being operated such member can be moved vertically of the mast to cause the drill bit 17 to penetrate the earth and form a well or bore hole.

The frame on which the rotary driving member is mounted is power raised and power lowered in any conventional manner, as by providing an upper chain 20 having one end connected to the rotary driving member frame and extending around

sprockets

21 and 22 after which its other end is fixed to the mast 11. A lower chain 23 has one end secured to the rotary driving member frame and extends around

sprockets

24 and 25 after which the other end of the chain is secured to the mast 11. The

sprockets

22 and 25 are rotatably mounted on a bracket 26 fixed to one end of the piston rod 27 of a fluid cylinder 28 carried by the drill table 15 or other fixed structure. Extension and retraction of the piston rod 27 causes the rotary driving member frame to be raised and lowered along the mast 11. The structure thus far described is conventional in the art and forms no part of the present invention.

When the vehicle has been moved to a position where it is desired to drill a hole into the earth and the mast 11 has been raised to an upright position, the rotary driving member 19 is operated to rotate the drill pipe 16 and the drill bit 17 after which the piston rod 27 is extended to lower the rotary driving member mounting frame along the mast 11 and cause the drill bit to penetrate the earth. At the upper end of the stroke of the piston rod 27, a conventional clamping mechanism carried by the drill table engages and clamps the drill pipe 16 to hold such drill pipe in fixed position while the rotary driving member is driven in a reverse direction to disengage the bull shaft 18 from the drill pipe 16. Thereafter the piston rod 27 is retracted by the fluid cylinder 28 to raise the rotary driving member frame to a position adjacent to the upper end of the mast 11. In this position another section of drill pipe is moved to a position directly below the rotary driving member and is connected to the bull shaft 18 so that the rotary driving member frame can be lowered until the lower end of the drill pipe section engages and is connected to the upper end of the drill pipe 16 which is being held by the drill string.

In order to sequentially move a plurality of drill pipe sections into alignment with the rotary driving member 19 to form a drill string, a magazine 33 is provided for holding a plurality of drill pipe sections 34. As illustrated best in FIG. 7, each of the drill pipes 34 is of hollow generally cylindrical configuration with an internally threaded counterbore 35 at its lower end and an externally threaded extension 36 at its upper end. The threaded extension 36 and the counterbore 35 are complementary to each other so that a plurality of drill pipes can be connected together in end-to-end relationship. Each drill pipe section 34 is provided with a pair of opposed lower flattened portions 37 extending upwardly from the lower end and a pair of upper flattened portions 38 located adjacent the upper end thereof. As clearly shown in FIG. 7, the upper flattened portions 38 are oriented in a different plane from the lower flattened portions 37 for a purpose which will be described later.

With reference to FIG. 2, the magazine 33 normally is disposed in a retracted position either within the mast 11 or exteriorly thereof and if desired two or more magazines could be provided to increase the number of drill pipe sections 34 which can be added to the drill string. In order to mount the magazine on a fixed structure, such as the mast 11, a pair of spaced generaly parallel arms 39 are provided having one end welded or otherwise attached to the mast 11 and extending outwardly therefrom. The outer ends of the arms 39 are provided with bearings 40 for swingably supporting a hanger shaft 41. lf desired the lower end of the hanger shaft 41 can be supported by a thrust bearing 42 fixed to the drill table 15.

In order to rotate the hanger shaft 41, a fluid cylinder 43 having a piston rod 44 is provided in which the butt end of the cylinder 43 is pinned to :1 lug 45 carried by the mast 11 and the outer end of the piston rod 44 is pinned to a lug 46 fixed to the hanger shaft 4l. The stroke of the piston rod 44 is arranged so that at one extremity the magazine 33 is in a fully retracted position and at the other extremity one of the drill pipes 34 carried by the magazine 33 is substantially in vertical alignment with the rotary driving member 19 and the bore hole.

An upper support arm 50 is welded or otherwise attached to the hanger shaft 41 adjacent the upper end and a lower support arm 51 is welded or otherwise attached to the lower portion of the hanger shaft 41 in spaced substantially parallel relationship with the upper arm 50. A bearing 52 is mounted in the outer end of the upper arm 50 and in vertical alignment with a bearing 53 carried by the outer end of the lower arm 51 and such bearings rotatably receive opposite ends of a magazine shaft 54.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the magazine 33 is adapted to be rotated in either direction so that one of the drill pipe sections 34 carried by the magazine is located substantially in vertical alignment with the rotary driving member 19 and with the bore hole. In order to rotate the magazine, a sleeve or collar 55 is rotatably mounted on the magazine shaft 54 adjacent to the lower bearing 53 and such collar is provided with an outwardly extending lug 56 connected by a pivot 57 to a fork 58 fixed to one end of a piston rod 59. The piston rod 59 is carried by a fluid cylinder 60 which is connected by a pivot 61 to one end of a mounting bracket 62 the opposite end of which is welded or otherwise secured to the hanger shaft 41.

The collar 55 has an enlargement 63 spaced from the lug 56 and through which a generally vertically disposed guide opening 64 extends. A pin 65 is slidably received within the opening 64 and such pin is adapted to be extended and retracted by the piston rod 66 of a fluid cylinder 67 mounted below the enlargement 63 of the collar. An index plate 68 having a plurality of openings 69, which are spaced apart a predetemined distance, is fixed to the magazine shaft 54 above the collar 55.

When it is desired to rotate the magazine shaft 54 in a counterclockwise direction when the apparatusis in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, fluid under pressure is introduced into the cylinder 67 to cause the piston rod 66 to be extended and swing the collar 55 about the magazine shaft 54. Since the pin 65 connects the collar 55 to the index plate 68, such index plate likewise will swing an equal amount to partially rotate the magazine shaft 54. When the magazine shaft 54 has been rotated, the pin 65 is retracted from the opening 69 in the index plate 68 after which the fluid cylinder 60 is operated in the reverse direction to swing the collar 55 without rotating the magazine shaft. At the end of the stroke of the cylinder 60, the pin 65 again is extended by the fluid cylinder 67 and is received in the next successive opening of the index plate.

When it is desired to rotate the magazine shaft in a clockwise direction, the pin 65 initially is retracted from the opening 69 of the index plate after which the piston rod 59 is extended to cause the collar 55 to rotate about the magazine shaft so that the pin 65 is located below the next opening in the index plate 68. Thereafter when the piston rod 59 is retracted within the cylinder 60, the collar 55 and the index plate are moved in a clockwise direction.

A seat plate 72 is mounted on the magazine shaft 54 adjacent to but above the index plate 68. Such seat plate has a plurality of openings 73 with generally parallel side walls 74 and of a configuraion complementary to the lower flattened portions 37 of the drill pipe sections 34. Each of the openings 73 has a slot 75 providing communication between the opening and the periphery of the seat plate 72 for a purpose which will be described later. A generally cylindrical upstanding flange 76 is welded or otherwise attached to the upper surface of the seat plate 72 about each of the openings 73. The inner periphery of each flange 76 is slightly larger than the diameter of the drill pipe sections 34 and is adapted to receive and guide the lower end thereof. Each of the flanges 76 is provided with a slot 77 substantially in alignment with the slots 75 in the seat plate 72. The major axis of each of the openings 73 is disposed radially of the seat plate so that the drill pipe section must be oriented so that the lower flattened portions 37 are in alignment with the side walls 74 before the drill pipe sections can be seated.

In order to secure the drill pipe sections within the magazine 33, an upper latch plate 78 is mounted on the magazine shaft 54 and such latch plate is spaced from the seat plate 72 a distance corresponding to the distance between flattened

portions

37 and 38 of the drill pipe sections. The latch plate 78 is provided with a plurality of generally C-shaped openings 79 of a size slightly larger than the diameter of the drill pipe sections 34. Each of the openings 79 is located about a center spaced inwardly from the periphery of the plate and has a passageway or mouth providing communication between the opening 79 and the periphery of the latch plate. Such passageway or mouth is wider than the distance between the flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe sections 34. Within each of the openings 79 a latch member 80 is provided having a generally C- shaped central portion 81 which is rotatably received within such openings. The latch member 80 has an upper flange 82 adapted to overlie the latch plate 78 and a lower flange 83 adapted to underlie such latch plate.

Each of the latch members 80 is provided with an inwardly extending generally U-shaped opening 84 of a size to receive the upper flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe. Each latch member is rotatably received within a cooperating opening 79 of the latch plate so that the U-shaped openings 84 can be aligned with the mouth of such opening to locate the latch members 80 in an open position.

In order to maintain the latch members in open position, an upwardly extending stop 85 is welded or otherwise attached to the upper surface of the latch plate 78 and an outwardly extending lug for finger 86 is welded or otherwise attached to the upper flange 82 of the latch member. The finger 86 is located in a position such that when the U-shaped opening of the latch member and the mouth of the latch plate opening are in alignment the finger 83 is in abutting relationship with the stop 85. Preferably a plurality of resilient members such as springs 87 or the like are provided with one end of each spring being attached to the magazine shaft 54 and the opposite end of such spring being connected to an appropriate latch 80 to urge such latch toward open position.

After a drill pipe section has been inserted within the U-shaped opening of the latch members, such latch members can be rotated to close the mouth of the openings 79 and prevent accidental removal of the drill pipe section therefrom. in order to limit the amount of rotation of the latch members, each latch member has an enlargement 88 which is adapted to abut some other structure, such as the magazine shaft 54 or the next adjacent latch member 80.

A generally circular retainer 89 is welded or otherwise attached to the upper support arm 50 to prevent longitudinal movement of the drill pipe sections within the magazine 33, particularly when the magazine is being stored in a generally horizontal position. The retainer 89 has a cutout or notch 90 extending inwardly from one edge to permit the bull shank 18 of the rotary driving member to engage the threaded extension 36 of the drill pipe section which is disposed along the axis of the drill string.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, when it is desired to load or unload the magazine 33, a loading cable 93 is provided, which is coiled on a reversible motor driven reel 94, and extends upwardly through a guide 95 mounted on top of the mast 11 and terminates at a hook 96. A bridle 97 is adapted to be engaged by the hook 96 and such bridle includes an upper bracket 98 having a hook-receiving opening 99 at one end of a downwardly extending arm 100 at the opposite end. A flexible cable 101 has one end connected to the upper bracket 98 adjacent to the openiing 99 and the opposite end of such cable is connected to a lower bracket 102 having an upstanding arm 103.

To load a drill pipe section into the magazine 33, the upstanding arm 103 of the lower bracket is inserted into the counterbore 35 of the drill pipe section after which the arm 100 of the upper bracket 98 is inserted within the extension 36 at the opposite end of the drill pipe section. Thereafter the hook 96 is inserted through the opening 99 of the upper bracket and the reel 94 is operated to lift the bridle 97 and the drill pipe section carried thereby to a position such that the lower end of the drill pipe section is located slightly above the flange 76 of the seat plate 72. In this position the drill pipe section is oriented so that the upper flattened portions 38 are substantially in alignment with the U- shaped opening 34 of the latch member 80 and the loweer bracket 102 of the bridle 97 is substantially in alignment with the

slots

75 and 77 of the seat 72 and flange 76, respectively.

The drill pipe section carried by the bridle then is moved toward the magazine 33 so that the upper flattened portions 38 are received within U-shaped opening of the latch member 80. [n this position the lower flattened portions 37 of the drill pipe section are out of alignment with the side walls 74 of the seat plate opening 73 and therefore the drill pipe section must be rotated until the lower flattened portions 37 and the side walls 74 are in alignment. The bridle 97 then is lowered until the drill pipe section is supported by the seat plate 72.

In rotating the drill pipe section to align the lower flattened portions thereof with the side walls 74, the upper portion of the drill pipe section causes the latch member 80 to be rotated to close the mouth of the openings 79 in the latch plate 78 to prevent accidental removal of the upper portion of the drill pipe section. When the drill pipe section is fully supported by the seat plate 72, the loading cable 93 is extended to provide slack in the bridle cable 101 so that the lower bracket 102 can be removed and thereafter the reel 94 is operated to take up the loading cable and remove the arm 100 of the upper bracket 98 from the upper end of the drill pipe section.

With particular reference to FIGS. 9l2, another embodiment of the invention is provided which accommodates a greater number of drill pipe sections 34 than the embodiment previously described. In this embodiment the magazine shaft 54 has a seat plate 72 located adjacent to the lower end and a latch mechanism 105 mounted in spaced relationship thereto. The seat plate 72 includes openings 73 having generally parallel side walls 74 and a slot 75 as well as an upstanding flange 76, as previously described.

The latch mechanism 105 includes a pair of substantially identical upper and

lower latch plates

106 and 107 with a bushing plate 108 sandwiched between the same and welded or otherwise attached thereto. Each of the

latch plates

106 and 107 includes a plurality of generally C-shaped openings 109 each of which has a passageway or mouth 110 connecting the C-shaped opening to the periphery of the latch plate and providing access into the opening. As illustrated best in FIG. 10, each of the

latch plates

106 and 107 is provided with a pair of bumpers or stops 111 disposed on opposite sides of the C-shaped opening 109 and arranged in a manner to engage the upper flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe sections 34 when the drill pipe sections have been rotated a predetermined amount.

The intermediate bushing plate 108 has a plurality of C-shaped openings 112 which are larger in diameter than the C-shaped openings 109 of the latch plates and are generally concentric therewith. Each of the C- shaped openings 112 rotatably receives a latch member 113 having a gererally U-shaped opening 114 which is adapted to be aligned with the mouth 110 of the latch plate.

The upper flattened portions 38 of a drill pipe section are inserted into the U-shaped opening 1 14 of the latch member 113 and thereafter the drill pipe section is rotated until the upper flattened portions 38 abut the stops 111 to prevent further rotation of the drill section. Rotation of the drill pipe section causes the latch member 113 to be rotated and at least partially close the mouth 1 of the

latch plates

106 and 107 and prevent outward movement of the upper portion of the drill pipe section. When the uppper flattened portions 38 of the drill pipe section are in engagement with the stops 111, the lower flattened portions 37 are substantially in alignment with the side walls 74 of the seat plate openings so that when the drill pipe section is lowered, the lower end of the drill pipe section is received within an opening 73 of the seat plate.

It is noted that the upper flattened portions 38 have a vertical length greater than the distance required for inserting the upper flattened portions into the latch mechanism and lowering the drill pipe section into the openings 73 of the seat plate. If desired, a support ring 115 may be welded or otherwise attached to the lower surface of the seat plate 72 and extend across the openings 73 to support the weight of the drill pipe sections when such sections are seated in the seat plate 72.

In the operation of the device, the vehicle 10 is driven to a drilling site and the mast 11 is raised to a substantially vertical position and is stabilized by the stabilizers 13. A drill pipe 16 having a drill bit 17 connected to one end and a rotary driving member 19 con nected to the oppposite end is already in position so that when the rotary driving member is operated and the piston rod 27 of the fluid cylinder 28 is extended, the drill bit 17 penetrates the earth. This operation continues until the upper end of the drill pipe 16 is located just above the drill table 15. in this position the drill pipe is clamped and the rotary driving member 19 is operated in a reverse direction to detach the bull shaft 18 from the drill pipe 16. The piston rod 27 then is lowered to raise the rotary driving member 19 to a position adjacent the upper end of the mast 11. The fluid cylinder 43 is operated to cause rotation of the hanger shaft 41 and swing the magazine 33 from a retracted position to an operative postion in which one of the drill pipe sections 34 carried by the magazine is substantially in alignment with the notch 90 in the retainer 89 and in spaced vertical alignment with the bull shaft 18 of the rotary driving member 19. The rotary driving member is lowered until the bull shaft 18 threadedly engages the extension 36 of the drill pipe section and the rotary driving member is operated to connect the bull shaft to the drill pipe section. During this operation the drill pipe section is prevented from rotating due to the lower flattened portions 37 being located within the opening 73 of the seat plate.

When the bull shaft is connected to the drill pipe section, the rotary driving member is raised to remove the lower flattened portions 37 of the drill pipe section from the opening 73 in the seat plate and the drill pipe section is rotated substantially 90 to cause the U- shaped opening of the latch member or 113 to be aligned with the mouth of the C-shaped opening 79 in the latch plate 78 or the C-shaped openings 109 in the

latch plates

106 and 107. The fluid cylinder 43 then is operated to return the magazine 33 to the retracted position, while the drill pipe section which has been connected to the rotary driving member, is removed from the magazine. The rotary driving member 19 then is lowered until the counterbore 35 of the drill pipe section engages the threaded extension of the drill pipe 16 and is connected thereto by rotation of the driving member 19. Thereafter the latches holding the drill pipe 16 are released so that operation of the driving member 19 causes further penetration of the drill bit 17.

When the magazine 33 is returned to retracted position, the fluid cylinder 60 is operated to cause rotation of the collar 55 and the index plate 68 so that another drill pipe section is disposed in alignment with the notch of the retainer 89 so that when the magazine again is swung to an operative position, another drill pipe section is in position to be engaged by the rotary driving member 19.

After the drill bit 17 has penetrated the earth to a desired depth, it is necessary to disassemble the drill string and this is done by raising the rotary driving member until uppermost drill pipe section is located above the drill table 16 and the upper flattened portions 38 of the next uppermost pipe section are substantially in alignment with the latches carried by the drill table. As the latches engage the next uppermost drill pipe section, the rotary driving member is operated to break connection between the two uppermost sections and then the rotary driving member is raised until the lower end of the drill pipe section carried thereby is located Slightly above the seat plate 72 of the magazine. While the drill pipe section is being held in this position, the magazine 33 is rotated from a retracted position to an operative position and the drill pipe section is loaded into the magazine and lowered so that the lower flattened portions 37 are received within the opening 73 of the seat plate. Thereafter the rotary driving member is disconnected from the threaded extension 36 of the drill pipe section and the magazine 33 is returned to retracted position. The rotary driving member 19 is lowered and connected to the next drill pipe section which is being held by the drill table and the process is repeated until the drill bit 17 is removed from the bore hole.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling and storing a plurality of drill pipe sections for use with a well drilling rig having an upright mast and a rotary driving member mounted for movement along said mast, said apparatus comprising a hanger shaft swingably mounted on said mast, a pair of spaced support arms carried by said hanger shaft and extending outwardly therefrom, a magazine having a shaft rotatably mounted on said support arms, an index plate fixed to said magazine shaft, collar means rotatably mounted on said magazine shaft adjacent to said index plate, means for selectively connecting said collar means to said index plate, means for partially rotating said collar means to cause partial rotation of said magazine shaft when said connecting means engages said index plate, a seat plate fixed to the lower portion of said magazine shaft, said seat plate having a plurality of non-circular openings, each of said openings being of a configuration to received a non-circular end of a drill pipe section, latch means mounted on said magazine shaft in spaced relationship to said index plate, said latch means having a plurality of C-shaped openings, each of said C-shaped openings having a mouth communicating with the periphery of said latch means, a latch member rotatably associated with each C-shaped opening of the latch means, each latch member having a U-shaped opening which can be selectively aligned with the mouth of a C-shaped opening, said U-shaped opening being of a size to receive the upper portion of a drill pipe section, and means for swinging sais hanger shaft about a generally vertical axis to move said magazine from a retracted position to an operative position, whereby said magazine can be selectively aligned with the rotary driving member.

2. A magazine for handling and storing at least one elongated drill pipe section having at least one first flattened portion at the lower end and at least one second flattened portion spaced from said first flattened portion and being out of axial alignment therewith, said magazine comprising a shaft, a seat plate mounted on said shaft, said seat plate having an opening complementary to the lower end of said drill pipe section, latch means mounted on said shaft and spaced from said seat plate a distance substantially corresponding to the distance between the first and second flattened portions of the drill pipe section, said latch means having a generally C-shaped opening communicating with the periphery thereof, a latch member rotatably associated with said C-shaped opening of said latch means, said latch member having a normally open slot for complementarily receiving the second flattened portion of said drill pipe section, whereby the second flattened portion of a drill pipe section is introduced into the slot of said latch member after which the drill pipe section and the latch member are rotated to close the latch member slot and align the first flattened portion of the drill pipe section with the opening of the seat plate so that the drill pipe section may be received therein.

3. The structure of claim 2 including an index plate fixed to said shaft, collar means rotatably mounted on said shaft adjacent to said index plate, means for selectively connecting said collar means to said index plate, and means for moving said collar means to cause partial rotation of said magazine shaft when said collar means and said index plate are connected to each other.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said index plate includes a plurality of spaced openings, and said means for connecting said collar means to said index plate includes pin means selectively engageable with an opening of said index plate.

5. The structure of claim 2 including a retainer located at the upper end of the said shaft, said retainer having a notch of a size to permit the drill pipe section to be removed from said magazine.

6. The structure of claim 2 including stop means to limit rotation of the latch member in at least one direction.

7. The sturcture of claim 6 including resilient means normally urging the slot of said latch member to an open position.

8. The structure of claim 2 in which said latch means includes a latch plate, and said latch member having flanges overlying and underlying said latch plate to permit rotation of said latch member.

9. The structure of claim 2 in which said latch means includes a pair of latch plates having vertically aligned C-shaped openings, a bushing plate mounted between said latch plates, said bushing plate having a C-shaped opening which is larger than the C-shaped openings of said latch plates and is generally concentric therewith, and said latch member is rotatably mounted within the C-shaped opening of said bushing plate.